These are much more sophisticated questions. To see the big money, a few of the things I look at are the strength of the tick, OEX options activity, depth of the bid. The market has its own feel depending on what the "big money" is doing which is one of the reasons I like to watch every tick. Deciphering its intentions? I would say to do this one needs to consider the overall backdrop such as support/resistance levels, what the sentiment is in the market, and other factors.
Yes and no. Yes, in that early on I considered giving up the idea of trading for a living. No, I never considered giving up on trading entirely since I enjoy it too much.
1. Too tough for me to give %, but I would say trade management by far since most of my trading time and energy is devoted to it. 2. Success of breakouts and pullbacks greatly depend on the market environment. 3. Yes, I do use time stops. There are positions that I take because I expect a certain result within a certain period of time. When it doesn't occur in the time period, then mentally I try to accept that I am wrong and move on.
I've never found moving averages to be useful in itself. Only when other traders are watching a certain level do I start to watch the same level.
RN, it looks like the attached chart When you see the price bidding up as 1000-6000 share prints scroll by so fast on the Time & Sales you can hardly follow it, I think you can safely jump on board at any time and be guaranteed something green.
Basic example... Generally, as the market goes down, the vix should go up, and vice versa. When it doesn't, or doesn't to the extent that it should, take note.